Why Lakers will beat the Suns

[kb24]

1st of all let me say im new to the forum ,i have been a Laker fan for 17 years. I have a lot of respect for the Suns.

I don't think Amare makes all that big of a difference and i will tell you why. Ronny Turiaf has done a great job at preventing Amare at getting close to the basket and giving him easy layups and dunks. He has made him have to create a lot more then he wants to. In the post ,i don't really fear Amare all that much. I also don't think he is as explosive off that pick and roll as 2 years ago. I kinda think he hurts the Suns at times,because he can't knock down that 18 footer like Diaw was in the playoffs last year.

If the Lakers stick to there gameplan of pounding the ball inside to Kwame, Lamar ,Andrew Bynum they will get in the penalty early in quarters and that will slow down the game. The Suns with the exception of Tim Thomas do not have good low post defenders. The Lakers will have a lot of success inside the paint. I know fans will say Amare is back,but i don't really fear his low post defense all that much. Kwame and Bynum both have a major size advantage and will be able to back him down in the paint all day long. I think Lamar will dominate Marion this series and that will require the Suns to have to double team and leave the Laker perimiter guy's wide open. The key is the Lakers staying patient, and not settling for outside shots.

If they do this ,they will be in the penalty early in quarters and control the games and the series. The Suns will have there moments where they are on fire from ther outside,but the Lakers inside game will be the difference in the end. Andrew Bynum off the bench will have a huge series.

 

[Chaplin]

1st of all let me say im new to the forum ,i have been a Laker fan for 17 years. I have a lot of respect for the Suns.

I don't think Amare makes all that big of a difference and i will tell you why. Ronny Turiaf has done a great job at preventing Amare at getting close to the basket and giving him easy layups and dunks. He has made him have to create a lot more then he wants to. In the post ,i don't really fear Amare all that much. I also don't think he is as explosive off that pick and roll as 2 years ago. I kinda think he hurts the Suns at times,because he can't knock down that 18 footer like Diaw was in the playoffs last year.

If the Lakers stick to there gameplan of pounding the ball inside to Kwame, Lamar ,Andrew Bynum they will get in the penalty early in quarters and that will slow down the game. The Suns with the exception of Tim Thomas do not have good low post defenders. The Lakers will have a lot of success inside the paint. I know fans will say Amare is back,but i don't really fear his low post defense all that much. Kwame and Bynum both have a major size advantage and will be able to back him down in the paint all day long. I think Lamar will dominate Marion this series and that will require the Suns to have to double team and leave the Laker perimiter guy's wide open. The key is the Lakers staying patient, and not settling for outside shots.

If they do this ,they will be in the penalty early in quarters and control the games and the series.

Welcome... but, huh?

How do you explain the Lakers limping into the playoffs? And wins against Seattle and Sacramento at the end of the season don't count as being "on track". The Suns have won the last 3 games, and Amare averaged a smidge over 10 rebounds per game, 2 blocks per game and 17 points per game. True, the points per game aren't his normal average, but the rest is above his averages.

For a team limping into the playoffs, you seem to have a lot of confidence in them. I know Laker fans here in LA that don't give their team much of a chance. Most here think it will go 5 or 6 games, but in the end, the Suns will prevail. Barring injuries, I don't think the Lakers have the firepower to keep up with us and match us on the offensive end.

 

[arwillan]

happy opposite day to you too.

 

[kb24]

Huh?

Amare is not a good low post defender. Andrew Bynum is able to back him down pretty easy. The Lakers in the regular season just were not very patient and going back to him. The playoffs are a different story.

Bynum ,Kwame ,Lamar will be huge in this series in the post.

 

[Chaplin]

Amare is not a good low post defender. Andrew Bynum is able to back him down pretty easy. The Lakers in the regular season just were not very patient and going back to him. The playoffs are a different story.

Bynum ,Kwame ,Lamar will be huge in this series in the post.

It's not Tim Thomas dude. He plays for the Clippers. Kurt Thomas plays for the Suns.

Andrew Bynum will have some moments, but he is not and never has been a difference maker. In fact, I bet in most of the games, he will be in foul trouble.

 

[green machine]

Amare is not a good low post defender. Andrew Bynum is able to back him down pretty easy. The Lakers in the regular season just were not very patient and going back to him. The playoffs are a different story.

Bynum ,Kwame ,Lamar will be huge in this series in the post.

Amare may not be a great post defender but Bynum is not a great offensive player. Neither is Brown, so it's really a wash at best for the Lakers.

Last year the Lakers abused the Suns with their big men because the Suns' tallest player was Diaw at 6'8 or so. Won't be a problem this year because the Suns have their bigs back and the Lakers' scrub big men won't have it so easy.

 

[kb24]

Bynum and Kwame struggle against teams with a lot of size ,but against smaller teams like Sacremento the other night,the Suns they are very effective. They might not dominate ,but it will be enough to force the Suns to double team. I agree the Suns got there big guys back ,but Amare still is only 6-8 like 240. Kwame and Bynum are both 7-0 280

Lamar will be guarded by Marion in the post. The key is the Lakers going back to that matchup in isolation post up situations. Force the Suns to have to double team.Kobe can not settle for long jumpers.

 

[Chaplin]

Bynum and Kwame struggle against teams with a lot of size ,but against smaller teams like Sacremento the other night,the Suns they are very effective. They might not dominate ,but it will be enough to force the Suns to double team. I agree the Suns got there big guys back ,but Amare still is only 6-8 like 240. Kwame and Bynum are both 7-0 280

Lamar will be guarded by Marion in the post. The key is the Lakers going back to that matchup in isolation post up situations. Force the Suns to have to double team.

Amare is 6'10" and guards Yao Ming with no problem. With a few exceptions, the Suns do extremely well with big players like Ming.

Don't forget that your boys are injured--Kwame's been back--what--2 games? Lamar Odom still has a bum shoulder. Even then, if Odom posts up Shawn Marion, he will probably be double-teamed and you guys just don't have the shooters to take advantage of that.

Again, it's great that you have confidence in your team, but you are ignoring the evidence contrary to your point.

 

[arwillan]

Amare is 6'10" and guards Yao Ming with no problem. With a few exceptions, the Suns do extremely well with big players like Ming.

Don't forget that your boys are injured--Kwame's been back--what--2 games? Lamar Odom still has a bum shoulder. Even then, if Odom posts up Shawn Marion, he will probably be double-teamed and you guys just don't have the shooters to take advantage of that.

Again, it's great that you have confidence in your team, but you are ignoring the evidence contrary to your point.

i totally agree with you. its the definition of a homer, ignoring all facts in order to say that your team will win with blind confidence.

Bynum is 7'0 275.kwame is 6'11 270. amare is 6'10 245, and definitely doesnt give up any height to either of them.

 

[D-Dogg]

Kwame and Turiaf can make Amare work, but Bynum can't bro...sorry. I'm a resident Laker fan here and them's the breaks. Bynum is too soft to do it.

The Lakers have a shot but IMO it really relies on Kwame...it has all year. His low post D and showing on the p&r is crucial. The rest of the cast has to shoot well, and Farmar's D is lightyears better than Smush so it is good that he's starting. Kobe will have to carry the day.

It isn't impossible, but it's gonna be tough. If the Lakers play like they did prior to January, they can win this series...but they've been playing terrible ball since the first of the year...though the Sacramento game was pretty damn good given the starters were effectively resting a lot of the game (33 minutes for Kobe, 34 points).

But welcome...don't be too rude or obnoxious and you'll have some good conversations...there are some bright Suns fans in here. It isn't like you stepped into a Suckramento forum, so keep that in mind.

 

[slinslin]

Prediction Kwame Brown will find himself on at least 1 poster after this series.

Seriously playoffs are a different story and so far Amare has always stepped it up in the playoffs. When Duncan holds him to barely avg 37 and 10 I doubt Kwame Brown will neutralize Amare.

And if Amare isn't making a difference how come we haven't lost to the Lakers since Shaq was traded as long as Amare is starting?

 

[KB24FTW]

Don't underestimate Kwame's defensive presence. There's a reason people call him "The Beast".

 

[D-Dogg]

And if Amare isn't making a difference how come we haven't lost to the Lakers since Shaq was traded as long as Amare is starting?

Uhm, Amare hasn't been much of a difference in many of those games. The last one he was held to a tough 17 points, under his avg. He abused Bynum but found it rough with Ronny.

Hang your hat on you beating us more than we've beaten you, but don't act like it was because of some kind of inside game. Because that just isn't happening.



And there is no way that Kwame gets postered. But Nash just may again, like he did last year when flopping out of Kobe's way.

 

[slinslin]

And Tim Duncan is called the best defensive big man in the league since I don't know when..
Are you sure they call him "The Beast" maybe someone spelled "The Bust" wrong.

The Lakers have size but their big men are pretty much scrubs, they might rough up Amare, but he will deal with it.

Even if the Lakers big man could neutralize Amare's offense that will leave other Suns scoring and the main thing is unlike last year you can't just go inside against us because playing against Amare in the post and at the rim is a lot different than Tim Thomas.

 

[msdundee]

Don't underestimate Kwame's defensive presence. There's a reason people call him "The Beast".

Will he be bringing a cake?

 

[Ronin]

Don't underestimate Kwame's defensive presence. There's a reason people call him "The Bust".

Fixed!

 

[slinslin]

Uhm, Amare hasn't been much of a difference in many of those games. The last one he was held to a tough 17 points, under his avg. He abused Bynum but found it rough with Ronny.

Hang your hat on you beating us more than we've beaten you, but don't act like it was because of some kind of inside game. Because that just isn't happening.

Oh yeah?

I remember the last game, Bynum tried to go in for the dunk, Amare swatted him and brought the ball up coast to coast for a layup for Barbosa or someone.

Just an example. He is averaging 14ppg 10rpg 2spg 2bpg against the Lakers in just 30 minutes per game in the regular season which includes his first game back in forever coming off of the bench which he was clearly not comfortable with.

 

[KB24FTW]

Fixed!

WOW you are so good!!

 

[slinslin]

Will he be bringing a cake?

Or his imaginative girlfriend?

 

[kb24]

i totally agree with you. its the definition of a homer, ignoring all facts in order to say that your team will win with blind confidence.

Bynum is 7'0 275.kwame is 6'11 270. amare is 6'10 245, and definitely doesnt give up any height to either of them.

I don't think it's because im a homer. We did have a lot of success last season with this strategy and we were up 3-1. I just don't think Amare makes that big of a defensive improvement to prevent the Lakers from having similair success inside the paint. He is a great offensive player though when they get the pick and roll going.Defensively he is a solid help defender,but i think he has weaknesses with his 1 on 1 low post D

 

[D-Dogg]

Oh yeah?

I remember the last game, Bynum tried to go in for the dunk, Amare swatted him and brought the ball up coast to coast for a layup for Barbosa or someone.

Just an example. He is averaging 14ppg 10rpg 2spg 2bpg against the Lakers in just 30 minutes per game in the regular season which includes his first game back in forever coming off of the bench which he was clearly not comfortable with.

A) I already said that Bynum is soft and Amare abuses him. But he does not do so against Kwame or Ronny.

B) Nice numbers...since he averages 20 and 9 for the season it's pretty impressive that he gets one more board a game vs. the Lakers and 6 more points..wait, is that six more...oh, six LESS points versus the Lakers. Ooops.

 

[kb24]

The difference though with Bynum now is now Kwame is back and starting. Now Bynum can go against the Suns 2nd unit and not there 1st unit like during the regular season. He is most effective in that role.

 

[slinslin]

The difference though with Bynum now is now Kwame is back and starting. Now Bynum can go against the Suns 2nd unit and not there 1st unit like during the regular season. He is most effective in that role.

Our starters will play 40 minutes a game and the guys coming off the bench are Barbosa, Diaw and Thomas.

That's right Diaw and Thomas, a frontline that is still better than anything we had LAST season in the playoffs.

Nevermind last seaons playoffs you came out of the regular season on a streak while the Suns played pathetic basketball after Thomas went down.

A big hand from the refs allowing you to rip the ball out of Nashs hands twice, allowing Walton to go 2 feet out of bounds to grab the ball without calling it at the end of the game helped you getting the lead in the series, but you still managed to lose and get embarassed in game 7.

This year the Suns are much better, Boris Diaw isn't our biggest player on the roster these playoffs...

Smush Parker is even in the doghouse and he was playing pretty well against us usually. Now you have Jordan Farmer starting against Steve Nash? You should pray.

 

[D-Dogg]

Smush Parker is even in the doghouse and he was playing pretty well against us usually. Now you have Jordan Farmer starting against Steve Nash? You should pray.

LOL dude...you don't even know square one about the Lakers. Farmar is about 10 times the PG as Smush, especially when it comes to defense. That is a PLUS and Farmar starting over Smush, combined with Kwame being back give me a lot more confidence about this series than I had a couple of weeks ago.

Here's a quick stat for you...with Farmar starting the last two games the Lakers are +19 with Jordan in and +1 with Smush in.

We should pray...pray that Farmar doesn't get hurt.

 

[slinslin]

LOL dude...you don't even know square one about the Lakers. Farmar is about 10 times the PG as Smush, especially when it comes to defense. That is a PLUS and Farmar starting over Smush, combined with Kwame being back give me a lot more confidence about this series than I had a couple of weeks ago.

Here's a quick stat for you...with Farmar starting the last two games the Lakers are +19 with Jordan in and +1 with Smush in.

We should pray...pray that Farmar doesn't get hurt.

You played against Seattle and Sacramento, two teams that were tanking, Mike Wilks abused Farmar and so did Bibby.

Parker played well last year agaisnt the Suns and also this year. Lets see what your rookie can do against Nash, maybe he learned some tricks in the NBDL.